Archive for Sensor

World’s Smallest Image Sensors, SOny’s Exmor goes Commercial

Sony’s “Exmor R” CMOS image sensors with back-illuminations are going to be sold to the public next year, one of these is going to be used on mobile phones. This move is expected to make photographic performance of devices where the Exmor sensors will be used dramatically improved. As of October 7 of this year, these innovations are rated to be the smallest and thinnest of all.

Sony’s announcement of commercialization of two of its highly acclaimed innovations came in October 7. The plans of commercialization is divided into four schedules, one in January, one in March, and the other two by April. The first to be in the market is the Type 1/2.8 16.41 effective megapixels back-illuminated CMOS image sensor “IMX081PQ” in January 2011. The next is the Type 1/2.8 16.41 effective megapixels*2 Lens module “IU081F” in Marxh 2011, and Types 1/3.2 8.13 effective megapixels back-illuminated CMOS image sensor “IMX105PQ” and Type 1/3.2 8.13 effective megapixels*2 Lens module “IU105F2″ in April.

The initial pricings for the four models of Sony’s Exmor will be 2,500 Japan Yen for the IMX081PQ, 12,000 Yen for IU081F, and 1,500 and 8,000 yen for IMX105PQ and IU105F2 respectively. These pricings are expected to fluctuate when these CMOS image enhancements come to market next year. The variation will greatly depend on how these items are accepted in the market. For sure, since its from the noted world-class manufacturer of entertainment gadgets and equipments Sony, these items must be good and thus the commercial success.

Recon-Zeal Transcend Goggles: Get Ready for the Winter!

Alpine lovers and skiers, pay attention! Remember way back in February when Recon Instruments announced that it will roll out the first GPS-enabled goggles in October of 2010? Well, the good news is that Recon Instruments is on the mark – as planned. The highly anticipated Recon-Zeal Transcend goggles are now available. The excitement over these devices is highly understandable. They are positioned for a limited release for this year, and shipment is planned to ensure that they are ready once the snow starts to trickle in.

The Recon-Zeal Transcend goggles will be available in two models. The first one is the Transcend SPPX featuring the SPPX polarized and photo-chromic lens priced at $499, and the other one is the Transcend SPX with SPX polarized lens offered at $399.

So, what exactly are the big-time features of these goggles that make their release important news? Well for a start, they are not the usual Oakley goggles sold in many ski shops. These are the only goggles available in the planet which give users real-time feedback when it comes to speed, latitude and longitude, altitude, and distance traveled. Plus, these gadgets incorporate stopwatch, run-counter, temperature, and time check. And did we mention that these Recon-Zeal Transcend goggles are the only ones fitted with GPS capabilities?

We can go on and on here, but what is certain is that the next adventure of skiers on the Alps will never be the same again. So, are you ready to hit the slopes with these Recon goggles?

Mastering Golf with SensoGlove

Success in every game of golf is determined by the distance that the ball travels and the precision by which you swing the ball. Every golf pro can tell that this is largely determined by your grip of the club. The tighter the grip, the shorter the distance that the ball travels. Therefore, the goal is to keep the pressure of your grip just at the right level. This is the prevailing idea between the innovation called SensoGlove.

This is just like the normal glove that you use when playing golf – it’s similar in feel and in design. However, this is more advanced and comes with a specialized purpose. It is incorporated with four small sensors designed to monitor the pressure of your grip on the golf club, and provide you feedback (audio) when your grip becomes too tight. The monitoring happens throughout the grip, and feedback is provided right at the instant when too much pressure is sensed. This way, you know just when you need to lighten up. The SensoGlove comes with a monitor that allows you to dial in your desired pressure (from 1 to 18). It will display your chosen pressure and will alert you when you exceed that level.

Another great thing about the SensoGlove is that you can use it anywhere – whether during practice or during an actual game. The computer is also removable, so you can use the device in whatever golf game, with or without the computer. With this glove available, it’s easy to master the secret behind a perfect and accurate swing.

Razer Lachesis 2.0 – Faster and Deadlier

Nothing is scarier than an evolved predator on the hunt – and that’s what the new and improved Razer Lachesis of high-end precision gaming mouse is all about. Evolve or die – the Lachesis is meant to be on the top of the gaming mouse food chain with its faster, better and deadlier features. The remodeled Lachesis is outfitted with a new 5600dpi Razer Precision 3.5G laser sensor and a customizable multi-color LED lighting system while maintaining its familiar ambidextrous original form, ergonomic design and value.

Tigers have their trademark black on orange stripes and cheetahs have their spots, the new Razer Lachesis has its own LED lights that can be customized in a range of 16 million colors. Furthermore, those colors can be customized individually, meaning each illuminated area of the mouse can glow in different colors. Like how predators sharpen their fangs and claws before their kill, the Lachesis’ variable dpi setting that can be sharpened in 125 dpi increments for that cutting edge precision.

The new Razer Lachesis also maintained some of its best features that made it a potent hunter:

• 60KB Razer Synapse onboard memory
• Nine independently programmable Hyperesponse buttons
• 1000Hz Ultrapolling / 1ms response time
• Tracking up to 200 inches per second
• Seven-foot, lightweight, non-tangle cord
• Approximate size: 129mm (length) x 71mm (width) x 40mm (height)/ 128 gram
• Scroll wheel with 24 individual click positions
• Zero-acoustic Ultraslick Teflon feet
• Gold-plated USB connector
• On-The-Fly Sensitivity adjustment

Purchase RAZER Lachesis here.

2GHz SheevaPlug: Easy Energy Management for Everybody

With the increasing cost of electricity and the growing need to conserve energy, energy management is now a must in every home. Marvell has partnered with 4Home to create the 2GHz SheevaPlug, a small Linux computer (so small you can fit it into the palm of your hands) designed to monitor power consumption in your home right from the outlet. This new innovation makes energy monitoring easy without you having to go for an expensive home automation kit.

This energy management device works by simply plugging it into a wall outlet. Once plugged in, it will stay on at all times. It will help you keep track of the historical and real-time energy consumption either of your entire home or of every electronic appliance. And, based on the current data available, it can project your future energy consumptions. Because of this, you are assured that you’ll have total control over your consumption and that you can always manage your energy consumption with the help of the available data provided by the device. It can even give you alerts whenever you’re having more consumption than what the device has allocated for a specific time frame.

The 2GHz SheevaPlug is an answer to the growing needs of people for efficient energy management. There’s no mention about the specific price of the device yet, but it will surely be less costly than a home automation kit. If you want peace of mind and control over your expenses, then this is one worthy investment that will give you back your money in the long run.